Stabber cooling device



y 1968 ,J. H. HAGY STABBER COOLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.12, 1964 INVENTOR A06 HH YY dag. ATTORNEYS M y 1968 .1. H. H AGY STABBERCOOLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 VIII/ INVENTOR J3mejZ [/fi ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3382,68]. STABBER CQQLING DEVKTElack H. Hagy, Melbourne, Fla, assignor of fifty percent to Melville G.Hunter, Melbourne. Fla. Filed Nov. 12, 1%4. Ser. No. 410,362 5 Claims.(Cl. 62--62) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLQSURE A method for cooling a stabbingdevice beneath the material being worked on and after the stabbingdevice has pierced the material with air passed over a coolant to reduceits temperature below 32 F. An apparatus for cooling a stabbing devicewhich is positioned below the material and directs cooled air axiallyoutwardly and, by means of a battle, approximately radially outwar ly ordownwardly.

This invention relates to stabbing devices such as used in sewing,lacing, punching, or cutting machines and more particularly to a coolingdevice for such stabhing devices.

It will be seen that the scope of this invention includes needles,knives, and punchers which are broadly referred to as stabbing devices.

The industries which employ these stabbing devices have been faced withmany problems due to the short life of the stabbing device. After arelative short use, the stabber point becomes sufficiently damaged byflash heat to equire replacement.

For instance, when a needle used on a commercial sewing machine getsexcessively hot, the chrome with which it is coated to providesmoothness begins to melt and flow from the point, thus leaving theneedle dull. The problem is accentuated because as the needle becomesmore dull, more heat is created as the needle attempts to pierce thematerial being worked on. As the chrome flows up the needle away fromthe point, it has a tendency to close the eye of the needle thus cuttingthe thread extending therethroug-h. Likewise, the heat created duringthe piercing of material by the needle causes the sizing, which isapplied to almost all materials, to melt and flow up to the needle eyewith a result similar to that experienced by the fiow of chrome to theeye.

Plastic or synthetic materials experience another problem which isforeign to cotton or natural fibers. The tremendout flash heat createdby the piercing of the material by the needle causes the fibers of theplastic or synthetic material to melt slightly. If two or more layers ofcloth are being pierced, this slight melting of the fibers will causethe layers of cloth to fuse together requiring someone to pull themapart manually.

The problem of heat excess is due in part to the high speed at which thestabbing machines run and in part to the difiiculty of piercing thematerial being worked on by the stabbing device. Thus, in the sewing andlacing industries the diificulty of piercing material is increased bythe use of synthetic materials and thick natural materials, such ascorduroy, and accordingly there is an increase of flash heat when thepenetration occurs. In order to lower the flash heat somewhat, machinesat the present operate in the range of 4,000 rpm. to 5,000 rpm.depending on the type of material being worked on, but it is desirablefor obvious reasons to operate even at a higher speed if the problem offlash heat can be eliminated.

Heretofore numerous attempts have been made to cool the needle, andwhile they may have had some success in cooling the normal heatexperienced by the needle,

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these cooling attempts have been generally unsatisfactory in combatingthe flash-heat problem. For instance, wax has been used on the footwhich moves the cloth and on the thread itself to absorb heat. But thewax is quite messy and does not cool the needle sufficiently to takecare of the flash-heat problem. Air has been blown on top of the fabric,but that has also proved ineffective, due in part to the fact that thesurrounding air in the particular room where the stabber machine islocated is generally warm enough to offset some of the coolingadvantages of the air. Furthermore, only the thread which is insertedthrough the eye of the needle is cooled by air being blown on top of thefabric. Likewise, by the time that the needle is in position to becooled by the air, a large amount of flash heat has been absorbed by thematerial with resulting damage. The rotary hook and thread positionedbelow the material are effected only a minimal amount by air being blownon top of the material. Therefore, it is desirable to cool the stabbingdevice after it has pierced the material so that both threads, therotary hook, and the stabbing device can be effectively cooled in thisregion.

Air has been blown on a needle in the vicinity adjacent the needle afterit has pierced the material, as disclosed in the patent to Christensenet 211., 2,400,741 of May 21, 1946. While such a disclosure may beeffective in removing lint from the rotary hook which, it was claimed,provided insulation against any cooling attempt and while the needle iscooled slightly by blowing air thereon, such a method is ineffective toovercome the flash-heat problems which have arisen since this patent.Merely blowing air on the needle does not reduce its temperaturesufiiciently to avoid the damage to the needle resulting in considerablelost time due to shutdowns as well as the incurrence of high replacementcost.

Not only is it desirable to have the heat removal medium and coolingdevice positioned underneath the material for the reasons stated above,but also the cooling can be more effective because the temperature ofthe somewhat enclosed area afforded by the structure of the machinesurrounding the rotary hook and bobbin arrangement may be kept lowerthan the temperature of the surrounding area above the material.Furthermore, by positioning the cooling device below the material, it isout of the way of the operator when he runs the machine.

Broadly, therefore, it is an object of this invention to overcome thedifficulties mentioned above and to provide a cooling method and devicewhich will be far more eliective than any device heretofore used to coolstabbing devices.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a method of cooling astabbing device comprising the steps of directing a heat removal mediumto the vicinity of the stabbing device and cooling the stabbing devicesuiliciently to dissipate the flash heat of the stabbing device.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to direct the heatremoval medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it piercesthe material.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to cool the heat removalmedium prior to directing it to the vicinity of the stabbing device. Theheat removal medium should be cooled sufficiently to dissipate the flashheat of the stabbing device, and thus it is contemplated that the heatremoval medium should be cooled down to at least 32 F. and preferably toat least 20 F. with the most preferable temperature being 0 F. andbelow.

As disclosed in the preferable form of the invention, it is an object ofthe invention to employ a method of cooling the stabbing devicecomprising the steps of directing air or any other gaseous mediumthrough a conduit to the vicinity adjacent the stabbing device after itpierces the needle, positioning a portion of the air conduit adjacent toa cooling medium, and cooling the air or other gaseous medium prior toits transfer to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces thematerial so that the cooled air will dissipate the fiash heat of thestabbing device. Furthermore, the air should preferably be cooled downto the ranges mentioned above.

iore specifically, it is an object of this invention to transfer thecooling agent through a second conduit adjacent to the air conduit andto vaporize the cooling agent, which, for instance, might be Freon, inthe vicinity of the air conduit to absorb heat therefrom prior to theair being transferred to the vicinity of the stabbing device after itpierces the material so that the air can dissipate the flash heat of thestabbing device.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedstabber cooling device comprising a first conduit having a first andsecond end for conducting a heat removal medium to the vicinity of thestabbing device after it pierces the material, cooling means positionedclosely adjacent to at least a portion of the first conduit so as tocool the heat removal medium, and means operatively secured to thestabbing machine for supporting the first conduit so as to position thefirst end thereof adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces thematerial.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a casing meanssurrounding at least a portion of the cooling means so as to provideprotection for at least that portion or" the conduit which iscontiguously coiled. The casing means may also have insulation meansassociated therewith for increasing the efiicien-cy of the coolingmeans. Such insulation means may either be positioned within the casingmeans around the coil so as to prevent moisture from forming ice on thecoils or it may form a covering for the cylinder for further increasingthe efiiciency of the cooling means.

Likewise, it is also an object of this invention to provide the firstend of the conduit transferring the heat removal medium with aconfiguration such that the cooling medium is directed against thestabbing device substantially throughout its entire length between theeye of the needle and the point of the needle so that it can moreeffectively cool the critical parts of the needle. Furthermore, suchconfiguration should provide for sufficient dissipation of the heatremoval medium so that the rotary hook and thread associated therewithare also cooled. Such a configuration consists essentially of allowingair to escape both in at least two directions depending on the type ofmachine being used. Accordingly, in order to accomplish this object inone embodiment of the invention the first conduit terminates at itsfirst end in a first opening and additionally has a second openingextending through the lower side of the conduit adjacent to its firstend.

These and other objects of this invention are more clearly depicted inthe following detailed description having specific reference to theattached drawings in which the embodiments of the invention are shown,not to limit the scope of the invention in any respect but so that theprinciples thereof might be more clearly demonstrated.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a stabbing machinewith parts broken away to reveal the stabber cooling device;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the cooling device;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the cooling device shown also with aclamp for securing the device to the stabbing machine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines d4 ofFIGURE 2 with parts broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 ofFIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the nozzleof the cooling device in relation to the stabber device and rotary hook.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a stabbing machine 10 having a stabber coolingdevice 12 associated therewith. Reference is made to a stabbing machinein that this term is broad enough to cover sewing, lacing, punching, orcutting machines in which the stabber device, i.e., needle, puncher, orknife, creates flash heat when piercing the material being worked on.

For illustration purposes, the stabber cooling device 12 is describedand illustrated in conjunction with a commercial sewing machine, which,due to its speed of operation and the materials on which it operates,creates a large amount of dash heat as the material is pierced by thestabber device. Formerly, needles of sewing machines created heat clueto normal friction in its operation which was usually dissipated by useof a blower of one sort or another. With the introduction of syntheticmaterials and with the use of heavy natural fibers such as corduroy, aflash-heat problem arose which was not relieved by normal blowingmechanisms.

The sewing machine used for illustration is the type having areciprocating needle. As illustrated, the sewing machine It) has a base14 with a workplate 15 secured thereon which lies in the same plane asthe table top 16. A vertical standard portion 18 rises above the baseand has an overhanging arm 20 extending outwardly therefrom disposedabove the base 14 and approximately parallel thereto. The arm 20terminates in a needle head 22 housing the mechanism, not shown, whichtranslates the rotary motion of the shaft 24 into a reciprocal motionoperating the needle bar 26. The shaft is operatively connected to acombined hand wheel and pulley 28. A belt is positioned over the pulleyand driven by some suitable source of power, such as an electric motor32.

The needle head 22 also receives a. presser bar 34 for the bifurcatedpresser foot 36 which operates in the usual manner for pressing upon andfeeding the material. The reciprocating needle bar 26 carries a needle3% having an eye as indicated at 40 which passes through the bifurcatedfoot 36 in the usual manner. Positioned beneath the workplate 15 is arotary hook 42 driven by an enclosed shaft 44 around a stationary bobbinholder 46 in a manner commonly employed in the industry.

During the course of operation the needle piercing through materialbecomes quite hot, and the heat is transmitted to the rotary hook andthe thread element, not shown, operatively associated with the rotaryhook. While the normal operation of these moving parts at high speedscreates friction heat which, in many instances, is aggravated by thefact that lint and dirt collect on the rotary hook and bobbin therebyacting as an insulator against efforts to dissipate the heat, theblowing of air or other heat removal mediums has an initial coolingeffect which is aided by the fact that the lint and dirt is blown offthe rotary hook and the bobbin. However, the mere blowing of air in thevicinity of these elements does not dissipate the flash heat created bythe needle piercing through synthetic materials and heavy naturalmaterials such as corduroy.

In order to cool the stabbing device sufliciently to dissipate the flashheat thereof, it is necessary to direct the heat removal medium to thevicinity of the stabbing device, preferably after the stabbing devicepierces the material. The heat removal medium, if at room temperature,generally does not have sufiicient cooling eiiect to dissipate thisflash heat, and accordingly, it is contemplated that the heat removalmedium must be precooled before being directed to the vicinity of thestabbing device. In order to sufiiciently dissipate the flash heat theheat removal medium is cooled down to at least 32 F. with the heatremoval medium being preferably cooled down to at least 20 F. and themost de sirable range being 0 F. and below.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the cooling device 12 has a firstconduit 48 through which the heat removal medium, such as air, istransferred to the vicinity of the stabbing device. A cooling means 50is positioned closely adjacent to at least a portion of the firstconduit 48 so as to cool the heat removal medium. As illustrated, thiscooling means 5i comprises a second conduit 52 through which a coolingagent passes. In order to increase the efiiciency of the cooling effectof the cooling agent passing through the second conduit, at least aportion 54 of the first conduit and at least a portion 56 of the secondconduit are coiled together so as to be maintained in contiguousrelationship for the greatest possible length and yet minimizing thespace required (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

Furthermore, the cooling efiiciency of the heat removal medium withrespect to the stabbing device is increased due to the fact that theheat removal medium is dispersed in a somewhat enclosed area representedby the base 14 of the sewing machine although the base of the sewingmachine is open sufficiently for enabling the cooling device to beremoved, if necessary. In comparison to the area above the workplate,however, the area below the workplate is relatively enclosed.

It is also preferable to enclose those portions, 54 and 56, of the firstconduit and cooling means which are closely adjacent to each other so asto provide protection. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and5, a cylindrical tubular member 58 is provided for enclosing the coiledportions of the first and second conduits. The tubular member has a pairof end plates 60 with apertures 62 for the particular conduits so as tocompletely enclose the area surrounding the coiled conduits. Stillfurther it is desirable to cover the tubular member 58 and end plates 60with an insulation means 64, such as a coating, so that the area withinthe enclosure means can be maintained as cold as possible. Likewise, itis also desirable to envelop the portions, 54 and 56, of the firstconduit and cooling means which are closely adjacent to each other withan insulation means 65, such as a foam plastic, so as to prevent icefrom forming on the coils and so as to increase the efiiciency of thecooling means. It will be appreciated that the cylindrical tubularmember 58 provides protection for the insulating means and keeps it frombeing crumbled by the jarring of the stabber machine.

The first conduit has a first 66 and second 68 end. In FIGURE 2 thesecond end 68 of the first conduit is connected by a hose 70 to asuitable source of a heat removal medium, not shown. The hose 70 has aquick disconnect means 69 which automatically closes and seals itselfwhen the first conduit is withdrawn from the connection. Similarconnections are provided for the second conduit leading to a source ofthe cooling agent, not shown. In the preferable form of the invention,the cooling agent is Freon, and accordingly the second conduit providesa closed circuit as seen more clearly in FIG- URE 4. The second conduitis coiled contiguously with the first conduit and then returns throughthe coil as indicated at 72 so as to provide a closed circuit. By usingFreon the second conduit becomes in effect the evaporator such thatFreon vaporizes within the portion 56 of the second conduit adjacent tothe first conduit and absorbs heat from the first conduit and heatremoval medium conducted therein. If Freon is used, the second conduit,serving as an evaporator, would be connected in a circuit with acondenser, not shown, which would absorb heat from the Freon.

A clamp 65, shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, is operatively secured to thestabbing machine for supporting the first conduit 48 so that its firstend 66 will be adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces thematerial. The clamp may engage the cylindrical member 58 and support thefirst conduit 48 therethrough. Furthermore, the clamp may be attached tothe stabbing machine or any structure associated with the machine, suchas a table supporting the machine. In the latter position, the clamp isconsidered operatively secured to the stabbing machine within the scopeof the invention, for it is only necessary that the clamp be secured inrelation with the stabbing machine so that the first end 66 of the firstconduit extends to a point adjacent to the stabbing device 38 after itpierces the material. By describing the first end of the first conduitas being adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces the materialso that the heat removal medium can be directed to the vicinity of thestabbing device, it is meant that the first conduit must be close enoughto the stabbing device to avoid losing its effectiveness due to theabsorption of heat of the surrounding air by the heat removal mediumprior to contact with the stabbing device. However, the first end of thefirst conduit is not contiguous with the stabbing device, for it is alsodesirable to allow the heat removal medium to dissipate slightly priorto contact so that it will cool a much larger area. As illustrated inFIGURE 6, the first end of the first conduit serves as a nozzle for theheat removal medium. Inasmuch as the heat removal medium is designed tocool the needle and thread associated therewith, the rotary hook, bobbinand thread associated therewith, and the material being worked onitself, it is preferable that the first end 66 of the first conduit 43be so configured that the heat removal medium is directed from the firstconduit in at least two directions. As illustrated the heat removalmedium is directed from the first conduit in an axial direction as wellas a downward direction for effectively cooling the stabbing device. Thevariety of directions will be controlled in part by the type of machinebeing used and its particular cooling requirements. As illustrated,therefore, one form of the inveniion discloses the first conduit 43terminating at its first end 66 in a first opening 74 with the firstconduit additionally having a second opening 78 through the lower side80 of the first conduit adjacent to the first end. The end 82 of thesecond opening 78 adjacent to the first end 66 of the first conduit 48has a bafiie means 84 extending inwardly into the first conduit fordeflecting air outwardly through the second opening 78. By such aconstruction the heat removal medium can be directed from the firstconduit in an axial direction as well as a downward direction.

In operation, therefore, this invention sets forth a method of cooling astabbing device used in piercing material comprising the steps ofdirecting the heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing deviceand cooling the stabbing device sufiiciently to dissipate the flash heatthereof. Preferably, the heat removal medium is directed to the vicinityof the stabbing device after it pierces the material, inasmuch as thisis the moment when the flash heat is the greatest. Due to the fact thatthe heat removal medium at room temperature is not sufiiciently cold todissipate the flash heat, it is necessary to cool the heat removalmedium prior to directing it to the vicinity of the stabbing device. Asmentioned heretofore the heat removal medium should be cooled down to atleast 32 F. with the preferable temperature being at least 20 F. and themost preferable temperature being 0 F. and below. More specifically, asdisclosed above, air is passed or directed through a conduit to thevicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material. A portionof the air conduit is positioned adjacent to a cooling medium which, asillustrated, comprises a second conduit a cooling agent, such as Freon,passing therethrougl.. The Freon is vaporized in the second conduit inthat portion thereof which is adjacent to the first conduit so as toabsorb heat from the air passing through the first conduit. Afterabsorbing heat from the air and first conduit, the Freon is withdrawnand returned to a condenser where its absorbed heat is dissipated. Theair after being cooled is directed to the vicinity of the stabbingdevice after it pierces the material so that it can dissipate the flashheat of the stabbing device.

Although not disclosed, it will be appreciated that a means is providedto cause the air or heat removal medium to pass through the firstconduit to the vicinity of the stabbing device. Likewise, it is alsowithin the scope of the invention to provide valve means associated witheitheror both the first conduit and the second conduit so as to regulatethe fiow of heat removal medium and cooling agent passing respectivelythrough each conduit.

It will be appreciated that modifications can be made to the stabbingdevice, such as the manner in which it is attached to the stabbermachine, depending in part upon whether the stabber machine is a lacing,securing, cutting, or punching type of machine.

Therefore, while a preferred form of the invention has been illustratedin the drawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear thatconsiderable modification may be made thereto without departing from theprinciples of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing should beconsidered in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting sense, andaccordingly the extent of this invention should be limited only by thespirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. A stabber cooling device for use with a stabbing machine having atleast a stabber for piercing material comprising:

a first conduit having a first and second end for conducting a heatremoval medium to the vicinity of the stabbing devi e after it piercesthe material, the first conduit terminating at the first end in anopening and the first conduit additionally having a second openingthrough the lower side of the conduit adjacent to the first end, thesecond opening having a bafile means extending from the end of thesecond opening adjacent to the first end of the conduit inwardly of thefirst conduit so that the heat removal medium can be directed in anaxial direction as well as a downward direction for effectively coolingthe stabbing device;

cooling means positioned closely adjacent to at least a portion of thefirst conduit so as to super cool the heat removal medium; and

means operatively secured to the stabbing machine for supporting thefirst conduit so as to position the first end thereof beneath thematerial to be worked on and adjacent the stabbing device after itpierces the material.

2. The stabber cooling device defined in claim 1 wherein the coolingmeans comprises a second conduit having a cooling agent passingtherethrough and wherein at least a portion of the first conduit and atleast a portion of the second conduit are contiguously coiled togetherso as to obtain an increased efficiency of the cooling effect of thecooling agent passing through the second conduit.

3. The stabber cooling device defined in claim 1 additionallycomprising: casing means surrounding at least the portion of the coolingmeans and the first conduit which are closely adjacent to each other.

4. The stabher cooling device defined in claim 3 additionallycomprising: insulation means associated with the casing means forincreasing the efficiency of the cooling means.

5. A method of cooling a stabbing device used in piercing materialcomprising the steps of:

confining a coolant in a closed system;

directing the coolant to a first zone;

directing air through first conduit means outside the closed coolantsystem to the first zone;

passing air over the confined coolant in the first zone;

cooling the air below 32 in;

directing the cooled air through second conduit means to a pointunderneath the material in the area penetrated by the stabbing deviceafter piercing the material; and

cooling the stabbing device.

Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,339,229 1/1944 Wyllie -136 X2,376,216 5/1945 Wertz 1l2218 2,491,635 12/1949 Allen 77--55 2,672,6323/ 1954 Towse 2331 X 3,086,358 4/1963 Tumavicus 165169 X 3,137,1846/1964 Meyers 83-171 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,133,225 7/1962 Germany.

758,858 9/ 1956 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Examiner.

